The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-09
n111r DE. cAMpos. EL1aHr.
successive Stories OF Hor Departure
With the Sham Noblem6n.
us-o,a 4ba Nalg YoI.l. UyfI.JJ

rita Mercedes CS AalnpoS WIN NJ Mel
1,aoue. has suffered some very material
changes since it first startled and thrilled
cha Parisians. Some of the boldest heroes
creoted bv the elder Dumas were common
nlace fellows compared with the hidalgo,
Lrirand or whatever he was who in broad
daylight kidnapped in the Avenue de Bots
do BouIogne the daughter of Martinez
Campos himself, heireSs to a million and q
half-not of francs but OF dollars-a beauty
If the perfect creole type and barely out of
her teens. As the story first had it, this au-
Jecious unknown, aided by masked men,
seized the Young woman, thrust her into a
Drivate carriage and drove off at Il rafting
mace. leaving her aStonished and circum-
vented duenna wringing her hands in de-
spair.
There we're two theories as to the identity
If the bold abductor. One was that he was
the Young womans divorced husband, the
Count de San Antonio, son of Marshal Ser
rano, But this theory was generally re-
iected as being altogether too commonplace.
The theory which seemed suitable ard salts
factory was that the audacious deed had
been done by a French nobleman who was
deeply in love with Senorita de Campos,
and who hoped by this coup to make an
otherwise hopeless suit successful by placing
the heireSs in such position that she and
her family would consent to a marriage to
avoid scandal OF course he hoped ultimately
70 win her love in some way, even if she
should be so cold-hearted as not to be won
by the audacity of his first proceeding. In
pursuance of this theory it was set forth
that the abductOr was a handsome, dark
featured young man, a vlScouut, who had
first seen and admired Senorita de CampoS
while she was absorbed in her devotions at
church; that he had succeeded in being pre-
scented to the young woman, but had been
kept at an aggravating distance by the
duenna, veritable dragon. He, however,
continued to make love through billet-doux
folded among the blossoms of bouquets,
which, under the peaceful cover Of the
night, he flung on the lady's balcony-of
course she had a balcony. According to
this story, Senorlta de CampOs' faith
full elderly companion, when she
recovered from the stupor pro-
duced by the abduction fastened to the
house of brOther-in-law of the heiresS, the
Count de Casa Monte, and by him she was
hurried to the Prefecture of Police and
thence to the Spanish embassy. She told
her story to the police, and was positive that
the lady had been spirited away against her
will She did not believe that the abductor
was the young Viscount, but was sure he
was a villain of far deeper dye-a person
whom she denounced to the police as having
vowed that he would compel her mistress to
marry him even if he had to compromise
her. and she greatly feared that this person
would TRY to ruin her reputation by boast
ing that he had committed some odious &C
ton" The Count de Casa Monte called
upon Queen Isabella, in company with the
Marquis de Galliffet, and the Queen prom
ised to see that the crime should be thor
oughly sifted.
The matter-of-fact and unromantic police
were strongly inclined to the belief that the
abduction of Senorita de CampOs was not
wholly involuntary on her part-a theory
which was accepted generally with great re
luetance, though it proved to be far from
destructive of the romance connected with
thecase. The Inspector who had charge of
the matter was grieved to differ with Queen
Isabella. but he discovered that the Senorita
was not rudely torn from the side of the
duenna, hut was gently led to the carriage;
that she did not raise her hands appealingly
and exclafn: "I'm loStl I'm lOst!' but APP
peared radiant and full of confidence, and
that the abductor was one NJ. de la Cour-
GarbQeuf.
Making the best of it, the romance-loving
ParBianS gathered interesting material
about theAelopement of the heiress with
''the Viscount de la Cour de Garbpuf," and
the story came out in this shape: This young
nObeman and aristocTat was the same who
had fallen in love with SSenorita de Campos
upon seeing her in church at her devotiOns,
bHt'he had made better Roadway in his suit
than the duenna knew. He had urged the
lady to elope; she had heSitated and, having
heSitated, had virtually consented. 1t had
been arranged that the elopement was to be
given the semblance of an abduction. And
If she was agreeable to the abduction at the
time and from the spot named by the Wis
count she was to signify that fact by wear
ing white instead of black when she started
out on that day with her duenna. The Wis
count had written TO her, with what orthog
raphy and chirography it was not stated:
My beautiful angel, If you are to be mine
and are disposed to follow me wherever l
thlnk well to take you, put on a light
gown; If not, come in dark one.n
On the morning of the coup, the story
had it, groom on horseback was posted
near the lady's house in the Rue Christophe
Colombo, to take note OF the color Of the
gown III which Senorita de CampoS APP
peared with her inevitable duenna. When
the groom saw that the lady was in white
he put spurs to his horse and carried the in
tellgence to the anxious Viscount. a friend
Oh the nohleman also dashed up about the
same time on a fOaming steed from the Arc
dc lTlomphe with the same information.
carriages and persons on horseback were
AZ the spot appointed for the abduction;
and party of ladies' and gentlemen allies
Oh the Vlscount, were assembled TO assist in
inns delightfully."- romantic business. When
oehorlta de CampoS arrived, strolling de-
murely with her watChful duenna, one of
these allies of the nobleman app reached the
game de compdgnie and asked the privi-
lege OF word with her What then took
place is told as follows: ''At
UnlS moment the Viscount hur-
NED out of his brougham, helped the
iady INTO it, and drive off with her in the
direction Of Paris, escorted by baron, who
RODE by the side of the vehicle The pair
mace the best of their way to the st. Lazare
station, took the train for PontOise, where
SHIi,ey spent an hour which was utilized by
Alie' MARTINEZ de Campos in writing let
Yer 10 the Prefect of Police, stating that she
''au gone away of her own free will and to
teIScape rom the tyranny of her duenna, and
t Ileil pushed on to Creil, where they entered
ole brussels express, reaching the Belgian
tSaptal at 1880. According to this account
ule sentleman's family who reside at Yer
sllileS, have proceeded TO Brussels to play
LOPflety until tine marriage shall como
OH According TO this story the ladies of
IuShuy who were present 10 assist the young
Hobleman merely surrounded the wretchcd
IJuellha, and explained 10 bystanders that
s ~'p vase lunatic; but they seemed to be the
IN VINO, IN an earlier story, surrounded
S Hne uuenna and "abused her i'll coarse
o,, l2r several days the story lost rapidly in
EoiHHy, and it was first limited and then